Summary
Do dolphins have their own language ? And could we 'speak' to them ? An AI large language model from Google, called DolphinGemma, is helping experts study dolphin communication. We interview Doctor Denise Herzing, the Research Director and founder of the Wild Dolphin Project, about her work and how it might bring benefits for humans and dolphins.
Also in this edition, we find out how tech is changing the way NFL fans watch football games, and mega-batteries are helping to keep the lights on.
Tell us about the one item of tech that you simply can't do without – please get in touch by emailing [email protected] or send us a Whatsapp message or voice memo on +44 330 1230 320.
Presenter: Chris Vallance Producer: Tom Quinn Editor: Monica Soriano
(Image: A photograph of Atlantic spotted dolphins. Credit: Google)
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | You're about to listen to a BBC podcast, but this is about something else you might enjoy. |
| 0:05.4 | My name's Katie Lecky and I'm an assistant commissioner for on demand music on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:10.7 | The BBC has an incredible musical heritage and culture and as a music lover, I love being part of that. |
| 0:17.4 | With music on sounds, we offer collections and mixes for everything, from workouts to |
| 0:22.4 | helping you nod off, boogie in your kitchen, or even just a moment of calm. And they're all |
| 0:28.1 | put together by people who know their stuff. So if you want some expertly curated music in your life, |
| 0:34.9 | check out BBC Sounds. Welcome to TechLife on the BBC World Service, the programme about technology, making an impact on all our lives. |
| 0:44.3 | I'm Chris Valence, and this week we're looking at a remarkable attempt to use artificial intelligence to unlock the mysteries of dolphin communication, |
| 0:53.3 | and maybe help us talk to these |
| 0:55.9 | clever marine mammals. We'll also hear about the hawk-eyed tech being adopted to speed up |
| 1:02.0 | gameplay in American football. And how to plug a gap in renewable energy, the huge batteries |
| 1:08.6 | that will deliver enough power to let you listen to tech life |
| 1:11.8 | and do more when the sun isn't shining. We start this week in the clear sunlit waters of the Bahamas, a great place to observe and listen to dolphins. |
| 1:55.9 | That's the sound of male Atlantic spotted dolphins, having a bit of a face-off. |
| 2:03.1 | There's a variety of noises to be heard there, whistles, burst pulses and clicks. And if you've ever been lucky enough to see dolphins in the wild, it's obvious that these large-brained marine mammals |
| 2:08.4 | are social, curious, and playful animals. And they certainly communicate, but do they use |
| 2:15.6 | language? It's a question researchers have been exploring |
| 2:18.6 | for years, now with a bit of help from Google. The tech giant has developed dolphin gemma, |
| 2:24.7 | an AI large language model it hopes will help unlock the complexities of dolphins' clicks and |
| 2:31.4 | whistles. Google is working with the US-based Wild Dolphin Project, |
| 2:36.5 | which has gathered years of data on dolphin sounds |
| 2:39.5 | recorded around the Bahamas. |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in 22 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.